"School of Fear: The Final Exam," the third and final book in the School of Fear trilogy by Gitty Daneshvari, debuts this October, making it the perfect spooky read for kids around Halloween.
"School of Fear: The Final Exam" (2011; Little, Brown Books for Young Readers), by Manhattan author Gitty Daneshvari, features returning characters Madeleine Masterson, Theodore Bartholomew, Lulu Punchalower, and Garrison Feldman, who are joined in this installment by new student Hyacinth Hicklebee-Riyatulle. The five tweens attend the School of Fear, where everyone is afraid of something (Madeleine, for example, is an arachnophobe, which means she is deathly afraid of spiders), and in this adventure they must save their school's secret from being exposed and overcome their fear of failure along the way.
Inspired by the author's own childhood phobias and featuring Tim Burton-like illustrations by Carrie Gifford, the School of Fear series' quirky humor and relatable characters might just convince young readers to face their own fears, on Halloween or any time of year.
"School of Fear: The Final Exam" ($16.99; $9.99 eBook) is recommended for kids ages 8-12. For more information on the trilogy, visit www.EnrollinSchoolofFear.com.
Local book signings: Daneshvari will visit NYC and Long Island this month to introduce "School of Fear: The Final Exam" to young fans.
